Manifolding attachment



May 1938. J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL 2,116,545

MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 25, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet l ToRsATTORNEYS y 1938. J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL 2,116,545

MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 25, 1935 i 9 S he ets-Sheet 2 ToRs Q%WWW WK) TTORNEYS May 10, 1938. J. Q. SHERMAN El AL MANIFOLDINGATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 23, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 L0 Q I I! May 10, 1938.

J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.25, 1933 EY r- QM ATTOR F1 JBA y 1938. J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL 2,116,545

MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 23, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 May '10,1938. J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL 2,115,545

MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 23, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 10,1938.

J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT 9 Sheets-Sheet T Filed Dec.25, 1933 IIIIP ATONS May 10, 1938. J QISHERMAN ET AL 2,116,545

- MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT ,Filed Dc. 25, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet a i ."u MG.I w

.n ,m (a n) I Mum I .70 b

m w y 7 8 9 I v INVENTOR ATTORN 5 m, 1938. J. Q. SH Er MANIFQLDINGATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 25, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented May '10, 1938PATENT OFFICE 2,116,545 MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT John Q. Sherman andAlbert W. Metzner, Dayton,

Ohio; said Metzner assignor to said Sherman Application December 23,1933, Serial No. 703,694

16 Claims.

.0 be equalized and accurate registry of printed forms thereonmaintained.

In traveling about a platen roll each succeeding stratum of recordmaterial being a greater distance from the axis of the roll will have al6 greater peripheral path of travel than that closely adjacent to theroll. When but a few sheets of short length are used, this differentialis but slight and negligible. However the error is cumulative and in theuse of continuous strips of 50 series connected stationery of indefinitelength, superposed forms are gradually offset until such deviationbecomes quite serious. This difliculty also increases with increase inthe number of superposed sheets or strips, the displacement of 35 whichout of registry occurs more rapidly.

It is highly desirablethat accurate registry be maintained at theWriting line regardless of the number of copies and the length of thestrips;

In the present construction, the differential travel of the superposedstrips is compensated and corrected by passing the strip assemblysuccessively about different rolls or guides in such relation that theinnermost and hence the slowest traveling strip when passing about oneroll becomes the outermost and fastest traveling strip when passingabout the second roll. The relative i speeds of the different stripsWhile passing about the different rolls vary with their distances fromthe centers of rotation. Their decrease of speed about one roll offsetstheir increase of speed about the other roll so that the relative speedsare equalized and the several strips are presented in registry at thewriting position. This may be acomplished by various arrangements ofrolls,

1.; several of which are illustrated in the drawings.

Additional to the travel compensating means the present inventionembodies improved retracting means for the transfer material by whichrelatively short carbon sheets are advanced in [30 unison with therecord strips, and subsequently i retracted independently of the recordstrips into registry with succeeding portions thereof preparatory to thenext writing operation.

, The object of the invention is to improve the [55 construction as wellas the means and mode of operation of strip feeding and carbon shiftingapparatus whereby they will not only be simplified but will be moreeflicient in use, uniform in operation, automatic in action, easilycontrolled and unlikely to get out of repair.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for equalizingthe travel of a relatively large number of superposed record stripswhereby corresponding portions will accurately register at the writingposition.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for positivelyfeeding such superposed strips of record material past writing position.

A further object of the invention is the Provi sion of improved positivefeeding mechanism automatically engaging and disengaging the material toprogressively advance the strips in predetermined'relation.

A further object 'of the invention is to provide improved control meansfor the record and transfer material feeding means.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved transfermaterial retracting mechanism, and actuating means therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting andguide for the tranS- fer retracting means.

' A further object of the invention is to provide manifolding materialfeeding means possessing the hereinafter mentioned desirablecharacteristics and meritorious features.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and themode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described andset forth in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the manifoldlng attachment, embodyingthe subject matter hereof, mounted'upon a conventional form oftypewriter. Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof observed from the rear.Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the relation of the transfermaterial retracting means at the beginning of the writing operation.Fig. 4 is. a. similar side elevation, showing the material in itsadvanced position at the completion of the writing operation andpreparatory to retraction of the transfer material. Figs. 5 and 6 aredetail perspective views of interengaging portions of the equalizingroller separated from each other. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view ofthe spring retractor. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the control brake partsarranged in distended relation. Fig. 9 is a perspective rear means.Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views, illustrating the pin wheelunit forpositively advancing superposed record strips. Fig. 12 is a perspective.

view, illustrating the use of fan-fold material.

Figs. 12A and 12B are detail views. Fig. 13 is a- A forming the subjectmatter hereof is disposed vertically at the rear of the typewriter. Fig.16 is a perspective view observed from the rear of a furthermodification embodying an endless belt feeding means for the superposedstrips in lieu of the pin wheel unit associated with the respectiverollers of the preceding construction. .Fig. 17 is a side elevationthereof. Figs. 18 and 19 are perspective views observed from the frontand rear respectively, illustrating further modifications. Figs.' 20 and21 are detail diagrammatic views. Fig. 22 is a fragmentary perspectiveview, illustrating strip engaging grippers mounted upon the transfermaterial carrier and operatively connected with the retracting means.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

The present manifolding apparatus is applicable to any standardtypewriter, biller, or other writing machine i and is shown in thedrawings supported for to and fro travel upon the reciprocatory platencarriage of the writing machine. Obviously, if so desired, thismanifolding apparatus may be supported independently of the writingmachine but operatively connected therewith for unison travel movement.

The manifolding apparatus includes a main frame having parallel sidebars 22 which are preferably, though not necessarily, of angleformation, the opposite ends of which are transversely interconnected byrods 3-3 into a rigid rectangular frame. The frame bars 2-2 are embossedor perforated if desired, at regularly spaced intervals, as indicated at4, to provide series of rack teeth for engagement of a gear pinion upona traveling carrier for transfer material. A mounting plate for agripper mechanism is fixedly secured adjacent to the lower ends of theside bars 2 and the structure may be rigidly braced by suitabletrussin'g, not shown in the drawings. The frame is supported in anupwardly and rearwagily inclined position by notched brackets Iengageable over spaced studs 8 projecting from the traveling platencarriage of the writing machine with which. the bracket is held inengagement by an adjustable hookshaped detent 9. At the top of the framethere is journaled a compensating roller Hi mounted in suitable bracketsMia. The compensating roll is provided with successions of spacedfeeding pins ll engageable in marginally punched holes l2 in superposedstrips i3 of record material. The record material strips areprogressively fed from a supply packet Mat the rear of the writingmachine upwardly at the rear of the frame and thence over thecompensating roll iii and in a downwardly direction, in alternatingrelation with interleaved sheets of transfer material i5 at the front.of the frame, to the platen roll 96' of the writing machine. The platenroll it operates in the usual manner of conventional writing machines toadvance the record material view, showing the carbon carrier retractingby frictional engagement of pressure rollers 00- 7 due to their greaterdistance from the axis and,

consequent greater peripheral travel, is offset or compensated for bytheir less speed when passing, as the innermost strips about the platenroll, in unison with which the compensating roll rotates. The feedingpins Ii serve to maintain accurate registry of printed forms on therespective strips, and are preferably, though not necessarily mounted inthe compensating roll for reciprocatory motion in radial directions intoand out of engagement with the punched margins of the record strips i3.To this end the feeding pins i I are preferably slidably mounted inradial guide grooves IT in the compensating roll. The inner ends of thepins are notched for sliding engagement upon a stationary flanged cam llinteriorly of the roll in about which the pins travel in unison with therotation of the compensating roll. As the pins approach the eccentric ormore distant portion of the cam ill, the)" the record material and againretracted within the roll. A limited number of feeding pins are alwaysin engagement with the strips, engagement and withdrawal thereof beingprogressive. Thus the registry of printed forms upon the several stripsand the alinement of the strips with each other is automaticallymaintained at this point. Slidingly mounted upon the side bars 2! of theframe is a vertically movable carrier 20 for the interleaved transfersheets IS. The carrier 20 is provided with rearwardly extending ears orbrackets 2| in which is journaled a transverse shaft 22 carrying at itsends'gear pinions 23. These pinions intermesh with the rack teeth 4 uponthe frame bars 2 to insure uniform travel of the carbon carrier 20 andmaintenance of its parallel movement throughout its range of travel. Thetransfer material being interposed between the record strips andadvanced in unison therewith by the platen roll l6 and coacting pressurerollers draws the carrier 20 downwardly against the retarding influenceof a brake mechanism 24 mounted upon the transverse shaft 22 at the rearof the carrier and yieldingly resisting the rotation of the shaft andgear pinions 23 which have intermeshing engagement with the rack teeth4. This brake device consists of a sleeve 25 carried by the shaft I2upon which are mounted a series of discs 26 certain of which arerotative with the sleeve and shaft, while alternating discs arenon-rotatively engaged with the carrier 20. They are pressed intofrictional engagement with each other by a tension spring 21 which abutsat its opposite end upon a pair of lock units or stop collars 28 screwthreaded upon the sleeve.

The carbon carrier 20 is provided. with for-.

terial 15 each mounted in a separate hanger. The transfer materialhangers comprise strips or bars 3| the length of which is greater thanthe width of the record strips and transfer material, and provided attheir ends with eyes or holes 32 engageable over the hook shaped fingers29. Pivoted to each hanger bar 3| is a channel shaped retainer 33 whichwhen turned to parallelism with the bar 3| overlaps at opposite sides ofthe bar the terminal portion of the transfer sheet l5 which has beenfolded over the hanger bar. Registering embossed ribs 34 in the bar andretainer serve to yieldingly hold the retainer in clamping relation withthe engaged portion of the transfer sheet.

In the event that fan fold record material I3a is employed, the hookshaped fingers 29 are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the path oftravel of the record material and ,the hangers have a pair of spacedholes at one end agreeing with the spacing of such fingers forengagement therewith as shown in Fig. 13 with the free ends of thehangers extending intermediate the respective folds of the fanfoldrecord material l3a. Thus instead of the transfer material hangers beingsupported at each end beyond the path of travel of the record material,they are each supported wholly at one end beyond one margin only of therecord material, the succeeding hangers being thus mounted alternatelyat opposite sides thereof.

In addition to the suspension fingers 29 the transfer material carrier20 is provided with spaced guide pins 35 which define the path of travelof the record material therebetween and prevent lateral displacement ofthe record strips relative to the transfer material.

To facilitate the retraction of the carrier 20 and interconnectedtransfer material preparatory to each succeeding writing operation, thecarrier is provided with laterally extending handles or finger grips 36to be grasped by the operator for retracting the carrier upwardly. Inlieu of the handles 36 for retraction of the transfer material carrier,which necessitate a lifting motion, one of the frame bars 2 ispreferably provided with a slotted guide way 31 in which is mounted areciprocatory slide 38 having a finger engaging extension 39 'andwhichis connected with the carrier 20 by a flexible strap or cable 40 passingover suitably located guide sheaves 4| supported upon the frame.

In the event that the record strips l3 are positively engaged with thetransfer material carrier during the unison advance movement of thestrips and carriers, by means of eccentric gripper rolls 42 against theinfluence of an actuating spring 43 and retractable against theinfluence of an actuating spring 43 to release the strips by oscillationof an arm 44, as described in Letters Patent No. 2,063,959, issuedDecember 15, 1936, upon a co-pending application, and illustrated hereinin Fig. 22 the retracting cable or strap 40 i may be connected. to atransverse rod 45 connecting arms 44 at the opposite sides of the carwhich is connected to and wound upon a grooved pulley 41 mountedconcentric with the compensating roller at one end thereof. The groovedpulley 41 encloses a spiral retracting spring 48, one end of which isfixed while the other end is attachedto the pulley. The grooved cablepulley and the compensating roller l are interconnected for unisonrotation in one direction by a pawl 43 on one member engageable with aratchet wheel 58 on the other member. As the transfer mater al. carrierdescends during the writing operation, the pull upon the cable 46unwinds it from the grooved pulley 41 causing the pulley to rotate andcarry with it the compensating roller during such rotary movement. This.rotation of the pulley is contrary to the influence of the spring 48 andserves to wind or tension such spring. Upon retractive movement of thetransfer material carrier, the grooved pulley 41 is rotated in reversedirection independently of the compensating roller by the retractiveinfluence of the coiled spring to rewind the cable 46. During suchretractive movement if desired the compensating roller may be heldagainst reverse rotation by a detent pawl and ratchet device prefcrablylocated at the end of the roll ill opposite the pulley 41. At the lowerend of the main frame is an apron beneath which the record strips l3 andinterleaved transfer sheets l5 pass to the" platen roll l5 of thewriting machine. The guide apron 5! is elevated somewhat above anunderlying transverse plate 52 connecting the side bars 2--2 of theframe beneath the record and transfer material and on which are mountedgrippers 53 pivoted to ears 54 projecting from the .frame plate 52. Thegrippers 53 are spring actuated into engagement with the margins of therecord material beyond the margins of the transfer material byretracting springs 55 connected to rearwardly extending mounting.fingers 56. They are elevated out of engagement with the record stripsagainst the tension of the springs by finger levers '51 also pivoted tosuitable earsv on the frame plate 52,and carrying rollers 58 engagingthe spring actuated grippers. The relation of the finger trip levers andgripper is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The grippers at opposite sidesof the frame are interconnected for unison operation.

Spring guide fingers 59 project downward from the apron 5| inoverhanging relation with the record material to confine such materialand prevent bulging distortion.

There are several ways in which the apparatus may be manipulated tofacilitate the periodic retraction of the transfer material. Thetransfer 'material carrier having been progressively drawn down theframe and the transfer material correspondingly advanced in unison withthe travel of the record strips l3 under feeding action of the writingmachine platen roll operating in its usual manner, until the inscriptionof a given length of the strips of record material or a set of printedforms thereon has been completed, the portions of the transfer materialsheets l5 ex ending about the platen roll will be found to be tightlyheld between the superposedrecord strips and resistant to retractivemovement. In one mode of operation, employing transfer sheets l5 of lesswidth than the record strips, whereby the strips marginally projectbeyond the transfer material, at the limit of the advance or feedingmovement of the material, the finger lever '51 is tripped to permit thegrippers 53 to descend into clamping engagement withthe margins of therecord strips I3 thus holding the record strips immovably in theiradvanced position, independently of the transfer material. Upon reliefof the pressure of the frictional rolls cooperating with the platen, byoperation of the usual pressure control lever 60 on the writing machine,the transfer material is released together with the portions of thestrips l3 about the platen roll, and the transfer material may beretracted by retraction of the carrier 20 upwardly upon the frame,thereby withdrawing the transfer sheets from between the inscribedportions of the strips into registry with-the next succeeding portionsor forms to be inscribed, and the previously inscribed portions aredetached on transverse weakening lines provided for such purpose. Duringsuch relative adjustment the record strips have been held in registry bythe clamping action of the grippers 53. Upon disengagement. of thegrippers by reverse movement of the finger trip lever 51 andreengagement of the pressure rolls the material is ready for repetitionof the writing operation.

As an alternative mode of manipulation, employing transfer and recordmaterial of either equal width or different widths, the record stripsand transfer sheets are arranged with their free ends in overlappingrelation by extending the terminal portions of the record strips beyondthe ends of the transfer material; Such terminal portions of the stripsare customarily occupied by headings upon the printed forms, or. otherareas which are not to be inscribed, and hence underlying transfermaterial is unnecessary. The

record material and transfer material are fed a through the writingmachine in unison in the usual manner by the feeding action of theplaten roll and associated friction rollers. When the inscription of agiven length of record material or terminal form thereon has beencompleted the platen rollof the writing machine is reversely operated toretract in unison the record strips and interleaved transfer materialuntil the transfer material has been retracted beyond the point offeeding engagement of the platen roll and associated frictional pressurerollers, and the overlapping ends of the record strips only, beyond thetransfer material, are engaged by the writing machine feeding means.carrier is retracted a like distance in unison with the retraction ofthe record strips and is then given a slightly further independentretractive movement, equivalent to the overlap or extension of the endsof the record strips beyond the ends of the transfer sheets. The carrierand attached transfer sheets are held in such retracted position by theoperator maintaining the operatorslide 38 in its depressed positionwhile the writing a machine feeding means is operated to advance therecord strips 13 independently of the retracted transfer material untilthe previously inscribed portion or set of forms are advancedbeyond theplaten roll and in position for detachment and the advance ends of thesucceeding portion or set of forms to be inscribed are engaged with thewriting machine feeding means. The inscribed portions of the strips arethen, detached and-the cycle of operation beginning with the inscriptionof the succeeding portion or set of forms during ,which the transfersheets and carrier again ad- The transfer material vance in unison withthe record strips, is' then repeated.

By either method of manipulation, the record strips l3 are always heldsecurely in place during the shifting operation. while the transfersheets are released for independent shifting adjustment into interleavedrelation with the succeeding portion to be inscribed, or set of printedforms as the case may be. of the superposed strips of forms is insuredby the use of the compensating roller l acting cooperatively with theplaten roll of the writing machine to equalize the travel of multiplestrips regardless of their distances from the center of rotation andconsequent variation of extent of peripheral travel, and the periodicalrelease at the friction platen roll td'correct any discrepancies inregistry appearing at that point.

While the form of embodiment heretofore described and as illustrated inFigs. 1 to inclusive is preferable and that heretofore adopted forcommercial use, the fundamental features of the Accurate registry andalinement invention may be embodied in other forms of apthe' writingmachine platen roll it by a train of gears 6i but rotates in theopposite direction. The superposed record strips 03 pass to theapparatus beneath a guide rod 62 at the bottom of thevframe, and passupwardly over the travelin carrier 20 and beneath the transfer sheetsbefore reaching the compensating roller I 0. The transfer material foruse in this form of embodiment must-necessarily be longer than that usedin the primary construction first described. Such transfer'material mustbe of sufficient length to extend from the carrier 20 when retractedover the compensating roller and thence downwardly between the strips l3to the platen roller it of the .writing machine. The frame is detachablysupported upon arms 63 extending upwardly and rearwardly from thewriting machine platen carriage, and in which the idler gears 6| of thegear train are mounted. Mounting brackets i carried by the frame engageover spaced studs 8 on the arms 63 with which they are held by the latchhook 9, in the same manner as before described.

In Figs. 16 and 17 there is illustrated a further variation wherein inlieu of the radially disposed aligning and feeding pins I i upon thecompensating roll ill, the compensating roll is devoid of strip engagingmeans and endless traveling belts 64 disposed in the rear 'of the mainframe are provided with strip engaging studs 65, which by engagement inthe punched holes of the record strips, serve to progressively feed thestrips upwardly and over the compensating roller. The belts 64 pass oversprockets 66 of suitable size at each end and are driven in unison withthe rotation of the platen roll, preferably, though not necessarily byinterconnection of the lowermost sprocket with the platen roll. Theplaten roll is provided with a gear 6'! intermeshing with a sec- 0ndgear 68 with which is connected a driving driven sprocket H upon thesame shaft with the lowermost sprockets 86 by which the conveyor belts64 are carried. Like the primary construction the compensating guide maybe the roller III or may be a stationary form of arcuate guide, which ineither event may be of greater or less radius than the platen roll l6and in this form of device it is, actuated solely by the pull of thestrips I3 passing thereover. At the back of the 10 apparatus there isprovided a pair of relatively spaced slotted guide plates 12 betweenwhich the record strips pass upwardly to the compensating roll. Thestrip engaging pins 65 project through and travel longitudinally of thelongitudinal slots in the spaced guide plates 12, and have feedingengagement with the record strips therebetween. Such strips may bemarginally punched as illustrated in connection with the primaryconstruction, or they may be merely provided with feeding holes 13 atwidely spaced intervals for engagement of the studs 65. To facilitateintroduction of the strips the outermost plate 12 may be hinged at 14 atits upper end.

The traveling transfer material carrier 20 may be mounted for verticaltravel on the frame in strips.

roll l6 as is illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19.- In

such construction the compensating roll I!) is mounted in supportingbrackets 15 secured to the platen carriage and carries a sprocket wheelwith which engages the drive chain 10 actuated from the platen roll by agear pinion 61, meshing with a second gear 68 to which is attached adriving sprocket 69, in a manner quite like that shown in Figs. 16 and17. The compensating roller ID is provided with reciprocatorydisappearing feeding pins II and functions to correct the differentialtravel of the strips due to their varying distances about the axis ofrotation of the platen roll. To achieve such correction within practicallimits it is quite desirable that the strips engage both rolls in and [Bthrough substantially equal angular extent, and illustrateddiagrammatically in-Fig. 20.

While for economy of production and to enable the use of the same stockmaterial for the platen roller l6 and the compensating roll l0, theserolls have been shown and heretofore described as of the same size, thisis not an essential factor and the compensating-roller 10 maybe eitherlarger or smaller than the platen roll I 6, without changing the result.In fact the compensating device need not necessarily be a roller but maybe merely a stationary guide about which the strips are drawn, as isshown at 15 in Fig. 21. The controlling factor in any instance is theangular extent to which the strips conform to the platen roller and tothe compensating device. -Referring to the diagrammatic views Figs. 20and-21, the angle a-xb which defines the limits of the arcuate travel ofthe strips about the platen roller must approximate the angle c-x-dwhich defines the limits of arcuate travel of the strips about thecompensating device, whether it be the roller ID or the guide 15.

While in Fig. 12 there is shown means for 7 mounting the transfer sheethangers'at one side of the record material for cooperation with fan foldmaterial, it may sometimes happen that the sheets of transfer materialwill not exactly aline with the record material. To correct thiscondition the transfer sheet hangers are mounted upon a swinging arm 16,as illustrated in Fig. 12A, which is pivoted to the traveling carrier 20coincident with the mounting hook or curved finger 29, beyond which oneor more studs 11 are carried by the arm .16. The transfer sheet hangeris provided with a series of holes, as is illustrated in Fig. 123, oneof which receives the hook or curved finger 29 as before described andthe other holes are located to receive the studs 11. The arm 16 isswingingly adjustable about the hook or curved finger 29 within therange defined by an arcuate slot 18 in the carrier 20 through which aclamp screw 19 engages with the arm 16 from the rear of the carrier, tosecure the arm 16 in adjusted position.

In maintenance of registry of printed forms upon superposed strips ofrecord material while being fedthrough a writing machine there areordinarily three factors of error to be overcome. First: there is alwayspresent certain variations of the spacing of succeeding printed formsdue to inequalities in the paper manufacture, and in the printing andpunching of the strips, also variations of moisture content andconsequent expansion and contraction of the strips which may vary fromday to day in the same material, and inequalities due to the associationof strips of different material or of the same material having differentphysical characteristics. Second: when superposed strips are advancedthrough an arcuate path of travel whether it be about a platen roller ofa writingmachine or turned about a guide rod or other means by which itsdirection of travel is changed, there will occur a differential oftravel by which one or more strips will gain upon another dueto theirdifferent radial distances from the center of curvature, or it may besaid that one or more strips lag behind another. Third: certain types offeeding devices are inherently ununiform in their action and also withthe use of friction feed devices a small amount of slippage may occur,especially under unfavorable operating or atmospheric conditions andwith certain types of material. The present construction is designed toovercome the various difficulties and insure uniform feeding motion ofthe strips and accurate registration of the printed forms. The initialregistry and alignment is effectively accomplished by the pin typefeeding devices, whether they be the pin wheel units or traveling beltcon veyors having strip engagingpins, both of which have beenillustrated. The travel differential of the strips due to their passageabout the platen roller of the writing machine at different diswhichthey were registered and aligned by the pin type feeding devices. If dueto defective frictional pressure rollers, unusual operating conditionsor the particular character of the materiel, slippage or other feedingerror shall occur during thetravel of the strips about the ing meansassociated fected by making the pinwheel platen roller, such errorautomatically corrects itself upon the release of the strips from thefric tion roller pressure to enable the retraction of Although, in theordinary operation of the ap-.

paratusthe frictional feeding means associated with the platen roller l6and the pin type feedwith the compensating means, whether pinwheel unitsor the belt conveyors as illustrated, are operated at equal speed toadvance succeeding portions of the strips uniformly, for certainconditions-of operation and for material of certain characteristics itis de-' sirable to effect a slight differential of feeding action of therespective devices. This may be efunits of slightly different diameterthan the platen roll It or by slightly changing the drive connectionbetween the platen roll and the conveyor belt so that the conveyor beltis given a slightly different feeding ratio. Any differential of feedingratio of the respective devices is compensated by the periodic releaseof the record strips from the frictional feeding means associated withthe platen roll which relieves the strips of strain and permits theirautomatic readjustment.

- From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its formsor modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a writing machine the combination of a positive feeding means foraligning and feeding a plurality of superposed strips of record materialand a friction feeding means for feeding the record material, a platenroll associated with one of said feeding means around a portion of whichthe record material is fed circumferentially, and a guide intermediatesaid feeding means for causing the record material to follow acurvilinear path wherein the displacement of one sheet with respect toanother caused by the curvature of the platen is compensated.

2. In a writing machine the combination of a positive feeding means foraligning and feeding a plurality of superposed strips of record materialand a friction feeding means for feeding the record material, a platenroll associated with one .of said feeding means around a portion ofwhich writing position,

leasing the friction feeding means at will to compensate and eliminatediscrepancies of feed between the two feeds caused by the inaccuracy ofthe friction feed. f

3. In a writing machine the combination of a positive feeding means forfeeding a plurality of superposed strips of record material in registry,a friction feeding means for advancing the record material arranged inspacedrelation with respect to the positive feeding means, a platenassociated with one of said feeding means over at least a portion ofwhich the record material travels through a curvilinear path, and meansintermediate said feeding means for causing the record material toadvance through another curvilinear path so as to compensate for thedisplacement of the sheets with respect to one another while passingover the platen.

- 4. The combination with a writing machine having a platen roller andassociated frictional strip feeding means by which superposed recordstrips are collectively fed about the platen roll and past a writingposition, of a pin type feedlng device including progressivelyextensible and retractible pins operatively engageable with the stripsin spaced relation with the platen roll, and about which the strips arefed through an arc of equal extent in converse relation to their passageabout the platen roller, said pin type feeding means being soconstructed and arranged that the record strips are misaligned duringtravel from said are to the platen roller.

5. A manifolding apparatus for use with a writing machine having aplaten .roll and feeding means for advancing record material pastwriting position, including a main frame, a compensating roller mountedthereon in spaced relation with the platen roll of the writing machineand of substantially equal diameter, about which rolls continuous stripsof record material are advanced in reverse relation whereby theoutermost strip passing one roll is the innermost when passing the otherroll, feeding pins carried by said compensating roll and operativelyengaging with the strips, a transfer sheet carrier mounted upon theframe for reciprocatory motion intermediate the compensating roll andplaten roll and an operative connection between the traveling transfermaterial carrier and the compensating roll.

6. The herein described method of advancing superposed strips of recordmaterial to a writing machine, including the steps of feeding the recordmaterial into registry along one path, feeding the strips in anotherparallel path offset thereto, advancing the strips intermediate saidpaths in such relation that as the strips are brought into registry insaid first path, the strips simultaneously shift into registry in' theother path.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, frictional means foradvancing superposed record strips through an arcuatepath toward a andguide means for directing the strips through an arcuate path of travelof equal'angular extent and the converse of that before mentioned andfeeding means positively engaging the strips throughout a portion onlyof the last mentioned converse arcuate path of travel for advancing thestrips to said frictional feeding means, said feeding means being soconstructed and arrangedthat the record strips are misaligned duringtravel from said guide means to the first mentioned a'rcuate path oftravel.

8. In an apparatus for use with a writing machine having frictionalfeeding means for advancing superposed record strips toward writingposition, a pin type feeding means operatively engageable with thestrips for feeding the strips in their approach to the writing machine,said frictional feeding means and the pin type feedconstructed andarranged that the record strips are misaligned during travel from onefeeding 4 means to the other.

9. In an auxiliary apparatus for a writing machine having a rotaryplaten and having strip feeding means associated therewith, for feedingsuperposed strips about said platen, a compensating roller in parallelspaced relation with the rotary platen about which the superposed stripsare fed in converse relation to their direction of travel about theplaten roll, and additional strip feeding means associated with thecompensating roller having operative engagement with the strips foradvancing the strips about the compensating roller through a path ofequal angular extent in unison with their advancement about the rotaryplaten.

10. In a manifolding apparatus for use with a writing machine forinscribing multiple superposed plies of record material, means forsupporting sheets of transfer material independently of and inalternating relation with thesuperposed piles of record material,including hanger bars projecting therebetween from which the transfersheets are suspended, and a pivotal mounting for the hanger bars locatedat one side of the path of travel of the record material about which thehanger bars are swingingly adjustable.

11. In a manifolding apparatus for use with a writing machine forinscribing multiple superposed plies of record material, means forsupporting sheets of transfer material independently of and inalternating relation with the superposed plies of record material,including hanger bars projecting therebetween from which the transfersheetsare suspended, a pivotallymounted support for the hanger bars andmeans for holding the support in any one of several differentpositionsof oscillatory adjustment.

12. In a manifolding apparatus for use with a writing machine forinscribing multiple superposed plies of record material, means for sup-,porting sheets of transfer material independently of and in alternatingrelation with the superposed plies of record -.material, includinghanger bars projecting therebetween from which the transfer sheets aresuspended, said bars being angularly adjustable relative to the recordmaterial in planes parallel thereto.

13. In a manifolding apparatus for use with a writing machine havingrecord material feedingme'ans, a. guide frame, a traveling transfermaterial carrier mounted thereon for to and fro reciprocatory motion, anoperator slide also mounted on the frame for to and fro reciprocatorymotion in a path of travel parallel to that of the transfer materialcarrier in a direction opposite to the movement thereof, and a flexible.cabie connecting the transfer material carrier and the operator slideby which motion is transmitted from the operator slide to the carrier.

14. An apparatus for use with a writing machine having a platen rollabout which superposed record strips are advanced past a writingposition, including a compensating roll in spaced relation with theplaten roll and revoluble independently thereof about which the recordstrips are advanced to the platen rail in converse relation to theirpassage thereabout through arcuate paths of substantially equal extent,said compensating roll being actuated by the movement of the paperthereabout, and a series of radial pins carried by one of said rollsengageable in marginally punched holes in the record strips for assuringalignment and registry thereof as they pass the writing position.

15. An apparatus for use with a writing machine having a platen rollabout which superposed record strips are advanced past a writingposition, of an idler pin wheel device engageable in marginally punchedholes in the record material in spaced relation with the platen roll andrevoluble independently thereof about which the strips are advanced tothe platenroll in converse relation to their passage about said platenroll through reverse arcuate paths of substantially equal extent forassuring alignment and registry of the stripsas they pass the writingposition.

16. An apparatus for use with a writing machine having a platen rollabout which superposedrecord strips are advanced past a writingposition, a guide means in spaced, relation with the platen roll aboutwhich the record strips are advanced differentially with theiradvancement about the platen roll in converse order to theirpassage'thereabout through reverse arcuate paths of substantially equalextent, and a travelling pin type device progressively engageable inion-

